diff --git a/components/modules/ble.c b/components/modules/ble.c
index fa29cf97..8bb16df7 100644
--- a/components/modules/ble.c
+++ b/components/modules/ble.c
@@ -995,6 +995,10 @@ static int lble_init(lua_State *L) {
 }
 
 static int lble_shutdown(lua_State *L) {
+  // It seems that shutting down the stack corrupts some critical data structures
+  // so, for now, don't allow it.
+  luaL_error(L, "Shutting down the BLE stack is currently not possible");
+
   inited = SHUTTING;
 
   ble_gap_adv_stop();
diff --git a/docs/modules/ble.md b/docs/modules/ble.md
index 24082a8a..7b7d8535 100644
--- a/docs/modules/ble.md
+++ b/docs/modules/ble.md
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ ble.advertise("foo")
 
 ## ble.shutdown()
 
-Shuts down the BlueTooth controller and returns it to the state where another `init` ought to work (but currently doesn't).
+Shuts down the BlueTooth controller and returns it to the state where another `init` ought to work (but currently doesn't). And, at the moment, shutting
+it down doesn't work either -- it appears to corrupt some deep data structures.
 
 #### Syntax
 `ble.shutdown()`